Seeding-machine.



B. M. STEELE.

SEEDIN G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1911.

1,305,500. Patented June 3, 191B.

4 SHEETS-SHEET L B. M. STEELE.

SEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. I917.

1,305,500. I PateHtedJune S, 1919;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ms NORRIS PETERS coy. Pnomurno" WASNING mu. 0. c.

B. M. STEELE.

SEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1912.

1,305, 500. Patented J 11116 3, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

B. M. STEELE.

SEEDING MACHINE;

NPPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1917.

1,305,500. Patentd June 3, 1919.

4 SHEETSSH EET 4.

BENJAMIN M. E 1 PEQ I ILLINOIS, e slfiu n o HART eB N WEIeH R or PEOBIA,ILLINOIS, A ooRnouarIo roF ILLINOIS.

SEEDING-MACHINE.

Specifieationof Letters Patent.

Application filed February 9, 1917. Serial No. 147,592.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN'M. STEELE, a citizen of the United States,a resident of Peoria, in the county of Peoria and-State of Illinois,have invented new and useful Improvements in seeding Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in seeding machines andparticularly what is known in this art as end-gate seeders, and theprincipal object is the provision of a device which is simple and lightin construction, providing a low down hopper and having the mechanismbalanced on-the end-gate.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a mechanismhaving a hopper mounted on the inside of the end-gate with a conveyerleading from-the bottom thereof over the top edge of the end-gate todischarge the seed into the chutes which lead to the'broadcastdistributing fans.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such amechanismhaving the plurality of fans driven by means of a flexible and resilientbelt or chain from'one of the wheels of the vehicle, a friction clutchbeing interposed for ready control of the opera tion.

Another object ofthisinvention is the-provision in such a mechanism ofthe hopper, the conveyer, the plurality of distributing fans, theoperating meansactuated fromthe wheel of the vehicle and the flexibleand resilient belt or chain for driving the distributing fans and theconveyer.

For the accomplishment ofthe foregoing and such other objects as 'mayhereinafter appear, my invention consists in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described andthensought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings which show merely for the purpose of illustrativedisclosure, a preferredembodiment, as well .asmodifications, -of ,myinven- :tion, it being expressly HIIClGIStOOdyhOWGVBI',

thatvarious changes may be made in practice within the scope of theclaims without digressing from my inventive idea.

the 'draWin-gs,-- F gure 1 represents a rear end elevation of anend-gate equipped with the mechanism constructed to embody my invention,

Referring now to the drawings, the nu ineral 1 designates the end-gateof a wagon or other vehicle upon which the seedingmeohanism is mounted.The hopper 2 and conveyer 3 are positioned on the inside of the end-gatewhile the distributing fans 4 and the operating mechanism therefor, aremounted on the outside of the end-gate.

This operating mechanism includes the shaft 5 having thebeveled -gear6on one end to drive bevelgear 7 on the vertical shaft 8, the gears beingmounted in a suitable casing-9 and packed with grease or other hardlubricant to minimize the noise. Mounted on theshaft 5 is the drivingand clutching means 1Q which includes the sprocket 11 flange members areinclined and spaced Pat nt June 3, 919- I apart toreceive the-frictionplate member 7 15, the hub 16 of which is secured to the shaft 5 by theset screw 17 or similar means soas to drivesaid' shaft. Collar 18 havinggroove 19-ilS slidably mounted on shaft 5 and has the links-20 pivotallyconnected to the extensionsQl of the clamping cam members 22, which bearagainst the face of the'flange .or plate member Band to which arepivotally connected the bolts 23 which' pass through apertures 24 insaid flange members 12 and 13 having the locking nuts 25 on the endsthereof. The casing 9 is provided with an extension or bracket 26 towhich the operating lever 27 is adjustably and pivotally mounted as at28, the end of the operating lever being forked as at 29 to engage thegroove 19 in collar 18. By this means the clutch is controlled so as tocause shaft 5 to be driven. Due to the adjustable mounting 28 of theoperating lever 27, the driving and clutching means may be moved bodilyon the shaft 5 upon release of the set screw 17 so as to readily linethe sprocket 11 up with the corresponding driving element on the wheelor axle of the vehicle.

The vertical shaft 8 and casing 9 are suitably supported by bracketmember 30 on the outside of the endgate and the shaft 8 has the groovedpulley 31 on its lower portion. This pulley is in horizontal alinementwith the pulleys 32 for driving the usual broadcast distributing fans 4.These fans and pulleys are mounted in spaced relation on the verticalshafts 33 having the bracket supporting elements 3% and 35 extendingoutwardly from the plate member 36, the shaft having an anti-frictionbearing on the lower bracket 3:; and having a countersink at its upperend to receive the set screw 37 mounted in the upper bracket 35.

The pulley 38 on the vertical shaft 39. for

driving the conveyer 3 is also mounted in alinement with the pulleys 32and 32 and the flexible and resilient belt or chain 40 furnishes thedriving means for these pulleys,

power of course, being transmitted from the shaft 5 through pulley 31.The belt is preferably of coiled spring construction so as to beresilient to ease the shock of sudden starting and the like and also toprovide a roughened surface to insure operative engagement. The belt isarranged so as to drive the distributing fans in opposite directions, asis well understood.

The vertical shaft 39 is supported at its lower end on the bracket 4:1having the antiriction bearing and the upper end being supported bybracket 42 which projects from the conveyer housing L3. The upper end ofthe shaft is provided with the countersink to receive the adjusting setscrew 4-1:. lnlounted on the upper portion of this shaft 39 is the gear45 which meshes with the gear 46 on the horizontal shaft i7 which isjournaled in the sides of the conveyer housing 4:3 and is provided withthe sprocket 48 therein. A similar shaft and sprocket construction 49 isprovided in the boot or lower portion 50 of the conveyer. Chain 51having the buckets or flights 52, is operated by said sprockets so as toconvey the seed from the boot of the conveyor up to the dischargeopening in the head 53. The seed is discharged into the chutes whichdiverge and extend downwardly to the openings 55 in the bathe or guardplate 56 so that the seed is delivered onto the fans for distribution.

The hopper 2 is provided in its lower portion with the partition 57which has sides diverging downwardly from the apex 58 so as to directthe seed on opposite sides of the lowermost sprocket in the boot of theconveyer. The controlling slides or gates 59 are slida'bly mounted inthe lower portion of the hopper so as to control the quantity of seeddischarged therefrom. The conveyer housing is provided with the bracketmembers 60 which have the right angled plate portions 59 through whichthe securing bolts pass, these bolts also passing through the plate,members 36 on the outside of the end-gate.

I also use an agitator 62 mounted in the bottom of the hopper, whichagitator may be driven by the belt and sprocket connection 63 from thelower end of the conveyer, as indicated in Fig. l. The shaft andsprocket construction 49 in the boot of the conveyer is provided withthe usual adjusting or tightening means, 64: as indicated in Fig. 4 ofthe drawing.

As shown in Fig. 5, I may use another form of conveyer instead of theflight conveyer shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. In this figure of thedrawing, I disclose a spiral conveyer 65 driven by means of the skewgears 66 from the vertical shaft 3 It is seen, therefore, that I haveprovided a mechanism which is simple in construction and operation,which is exceedingly light, which is balanced on the end-gate and inwhich the hopper is located in a. lowdown position. Further than that,the interposition of the friction clutch member and the use of theresilient drive provide efficient means for preventing breakage of theparts or injury to the mechanism.

lVhat I claim is 1. In combination with an end-gate, a hopper mounted onthe inside thereof, a conveyer receiving the discharge from the hopperand discharging over the top of the end-gate, distributing fans on theout side of the endgate, means for conveying the discharge of theconveyer to said fans, and means for driving said fans and conveyer.

2. In combination with an endgate, a hopper mounted on the insidethereof, a conveyer receiving the discharge from the hopper anddischarging over the top of the end-gate, distributing fans on theoutside of the endgate, means for conveying the discharge of theconveyer to said fans, means for driving said fans and conveyer, saidmeans including a member adapted to be driven from the wheel of avehicle, and

aeeaeoo clutclr mechanism interposed Between said:

hopperand dischargingover the: top .of the end-gate, distributing fansonthe outside of: the end-gate, means for conveying thefdis charge ofthe conveyer to said fans, means for drlvmg sard fans and conveyer, saldmeans including a member adapted to be driven from'thewlree'l ofavehicle, and a: resilient member for driving said fans and conveyer.

.4. In comblnation with an end-gate, a

hopper mounted on the inside thereof, a

conveyer receiving the discharge from the hopper and discharging overthe top of the end-gate, distributing fans on the outside of theend-gate, means for conveying the discharge of the conveyer to saidfans, means for driving said fans and conveyer, said means including amember adapted to be driven from the wheel of a vehicle, a resilientmember for driving said fans and conveyer, and a friction clutchinterposed between said member and said resilient member.

5. In combination with an end-gate, a hopper mounted on the insidethereof, a conveyer receiving the discharge from the hopper anddischarging from the top of the end-gate a plurality of distributingfans located in spaced relation on the outside of the end-gate,diverging chute members leading from the head of said conveyer to saidfans so as to convey the material from said conveyer to said fans, andmeans for driving said fans and the conveyer.

6. In combination with an end-gate, a hopper mounted on the insidethereof, a con- -veyer connected to said hopper and discharging over thetop of the end-gate, a plurality of distributing fans on the outside ofthe end-gate, means for conveying the discharge of said conveyer to saidfans, said fans each having a driving pulley, a driving pulley for saidconveyer, a main driving pulley, said pulleys being located in alinementand operatively connected together, and a member adapted to be drivenfrom the wheel of a vehicle and having connections with said maindriving pulley.

7. In combination with an end-gate, a hopper mounted on the insidethereof, a conveyer connected to said hopper and discharging over thetop of the end-gate, a plurality of distributing fans on the outside ofthe end-gate, means for conveying the discharge of said conveyer to saidfans, said fans each having a driving pulley, a driving pulley for saidconveyer, a main driving pulley, said pulleys being located in alinementand operatively connected together,

and amiember adapted to be driven from the w'heeliof'a vehicle andhaving connections with said main driving pulley, said connectionsincludingafriction clutch.

=' -8..In "combination with an end-gate, a

hoppermo'unted on the inside thereof, aconveyer connected to said hopperand discharing :over the top of the end-gate, a plum ity :ofdistributing fans on the outside of 'the endgate, 'mean's for conveyingthe discharge of said conveyer to said fans, said fans -each lravi-n adriving pulley, a' driv- 111g pulley for sald conveyer, a mam drivingpulley, said pulleys being located in alinement and operativelyconnected toether, and a member adapted to be driven from the wheel of avehicle and having connections With said main driving pulley, saidconnections including a friction clutch, and means for adjusting saidfriction clutch and said member.

9. In combination with an end-gate, a hopper mounted on the insidethereof, a conveyer receiving the discharge from the hopper anddischarging over thetop of'the end-gate, a plurality of distributingfans mounted on the outside of the end-gate, means for conveying thedischarge of the hopper to said fans, a vertical shaft for driving saidconveyer, having a pulley at its lower end, a pulley for driving eachfan and a main driving pulley, all of said pulleys being arranged inalinement and having operative connection with each other, a verticalshaft connected to said main driving pulley and having operativeconnection with a horizontal shaft, a member on said horizontal shaftadapted to be driven from the Wheel of a vehicle, a friction clutchhaving connection with said member and adapted to operatively connectsaid member to said horizontal shaft.

10. In combination with an end-gate, a hopper mounted on the insidethereof, a conveyer receiving the discharge from the hopper anddischarging over the top of the end-gate, a plurality of distributingfans mounted on the outside of the end-gate, means for conveying thedischarge of the hopper to said fans, a vertical shaft for driving saidconveyer, having a pulley at its lower end, a pulley for driving eachfan and a main driving pulley, all of said pulleys being arranged inalinement, said main driving pulley being mounted on the lower portionof a vertical shaft, a gear on the upper portion of said vertical shaft,a horizontal shaft having a gear meshing with said gear on said verticalshaft, a member loosely mounted on said horizontal shaft adapted to bedriven from the wheel of a vehicle, and a clutch member adapted tooperatively connect said member With said horizontal shaft.

11; In combination With, an end-gate, a hopper mounted on the insidethereof, a conveyor receiving the discharge from the hopper anddischarging over the top of the end-gate, supporting members secured tothe outside of said end-gate and having spaced bracket members, avertical shaft mounted in each pair of spaced bracket members, adistributing fan and a driving pulley on each vertical shaft, anadditional Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing theG0mmissioner of Patents,

vertical shaft extending to the upper end of said conveyer and havingdriving means thereon for driving said conveyer and having a pulley onits lower end in alinelnent With said first mentioned pulleys, a maindriving pulley and means for driving said main driving pulley from theWheel of a vehicle.

BENJAMIN M. STEELE.

Washington, D. G.

